1. Horse slaughter for meat is now illegal in Texas: A decision
issued by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans in
January made slaughtering horses for meat illegal in Texas, where two of
the nation’s three processing plants are located. According to Vivian
Farrell, President of Houston based Fund for Horses, "Closing the horse
slaughter plants in Texas could save 50,000 to 60,000 equines from a
brutal and terrifying death this year alone."

It’s good news for God’s Creation that horse slaughter for meat
consumption is now illegal in Texas. More states should follow this
example and extend their circle of compassion to all of God’s animals,
who suffer pain and agony daily in factory farms and slaughter houses.

2. “We manage to swallow flesh only because we do not think of the
cruel and sinful thing that we do. Cruelty... is a fundamental sin, and
admits of no arguments or nice distinctions. If only we do not allow our
heart to grow callous, it protests against cruelty, is always clearly
heard; and yet we go on perpetrating cruelties easily, merrily, all of
us - in fact, anyone who does not join in is dubbed a crank.”
~ Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941), Bengali educator, philosopher,
novelist, poet, composer and Nobel Prize winner 1913.

3. Smithfield Foods, Inc. decision on gestation crates: Smithfield,
the U.S.’s largest producer of pigs announced it will phase out
gestation crates by 2017; that is the 2-by-7-foot metal crates used to
house pregnant sows till their babies are born. Farms that Smithfield
contracts with will be required to phase them out by 2027.

The company
explained that the reason for that extended time period has to do with
the lack of strategy and answers they are facing today, and to the fact
that they would like the price market to not go up dramatically. The
decision was largely affected by the pressure animal advocate groups put
on the company and by customers such as Wal-Mart and Mc. Donald’s. Even
though The National Pork Producers Council still maintains that
gestation stalls are appropriate. On the other hand Larry Pope, chief
executive of the Smithfield-based company, believes that providing pigs
with a friendlier-type of housing is the right thing to do.

There is no doubt that gestation crates are the result of trying to
maximize profit and minimize cost without any regard to the lives of the
pigs. While phasing out gestational crates by 2017 is a positive step
towards a less abusive housing, it is a pity that millions of sows will
continue to suffer the stress, fear and confinement for 10 more years.
Supporting the pork industry is supporting unimaginable pain and
suffering; while adopting a plant-based diet is a powerful statement of
compassion and justice.

4. (RSV) Psalm 33:4-5
"For the word of the LORD is upright; and all
his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD."

God is loving, faithful and just. We are made in God’s image and we
are called to also be loving, faithful and just. The way we relate to
Creation reflects our obedience to God.

5. Maple Leaf Foods Inc. following Smithfield Foods’ steps:
Canadian’s largest pig producer, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., announced on
January 31st it will gradually phase out sow gestation stalls over the
next 10 years. Some skepticism came from Florian Possberg,
vice-president of the Canadian Pork Council, and a large-scale hog
farmer who stated, “If we're doing something for the perception of the
general public, rather than the benefit of the animals and, quite
frankly, the profitability of our business, that's tough to do."

However, animal advocates and caring consumers agree that gestation
crates as cruel, abusive and to no benefit to the animals, regardless of
what the pig industry claims. Possberg also said that the decision sets
the bar for the industry. Hopefully, as a result, other Canadian
companies may have no choice but to bow to public pressure.

6. Veal tethering will stop at Marcho Farms: Marcho Farms, one of the
largest US veal producers has announced that it will stop tethering
formula-fed veal calves so they have space to turn around, lie down and
the ability to interact. This company has already thousands of calves in
this new program and within a few years the rest of their farms will
implement the change. Wayne Marcho, company founder, said, "We are
confident that leading this change in production practices will help to
dispel the myths associated with veal."

Tethering calves causes tremendous suffering to them, and to the
mothers that cannot take care of their young, as God designed them. The
public opinion has been crucial for the above change to take place,
since caring, compassionate consumers refuse to eat veal. It is
appalling; however, that the veal industry still refers as “myths” to
the very real pain and suffering calves undergo. Hopefully, more veal
producers will follow Marcho Farm’s example to make the lives of God’s
calves a little less unbearable. A plant-based diet is still the most
powerful statement against the exploitation of farm animals.